| Stress & Bullying: Unblocking your path to your potential
People can feel trapped in their work when suffering from stress or when targetted by a bully.. but there are positive paths that can be taken to get out of an unhealthy rut.
Getting support and taking control of your situation are two steps that psychologists know reduce stress levels.
Whether a Business Owner, an HR Manager or an Employee, when you contact us you'll find the support and guidance you need to take positive steps to a brighter future.
You'll find plenty of other resources from the links section of this page too.
We offer career coaching to help individuals get their careers back on track after a period of derailment through either stress or bullying:
Some people want to move on, and need to boost their confidence to win a new job
Some know that they need to change the way they do things - their current ways of managing being ineffective or unacceptable to others - contacting us is taking the first step on a more positive path
Individuals may be feeling the health effects of working under stress for long periods, needing help to change their working habits and perhaps improve their assertiveness
Managers may want help to improve organisational management practices after accusations of bullying or need help with pockets of poor practice that threaten employee health and safety
Team leaders may need to develop ways to increase the performance or efficiency of their team without increasing stress levels.
Once we have discussed what you're up against and what you want in your happier and healthier future, we can discuss how much coaching you're likely to need, how much and when you'll be asked to pay, if you go ahead with coaching. We may ask for your contact details, but we promise not to pressure you into take up our coaching.
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Extract from 'Survive Bullying at Work: Steps to Success'
When you consider that many thousands of targets are severely distressed and become seriously ill every year through bullying, it focusses the mind.
Doing nothing is not an option as it strengthens bullies’ power. Each and every employee in the organisation can play an important role in wiping out bullying.
What can you do when someone reports bullying to you?
1. Listen very carefully and ask questions to find out exactly what has been happening and for how long. It may help later if you make a few notes
2. Even if the target's assessment is not flawless, support their main argument that the bullying behaviour is not acceptable
3. Reassure the target of their worth, even if they are not perfect
4. Ask the target what help they need and help them to find it
5. Help them look at their options.
Typically they will feel trapped and unable to act or get help. Going through options will help them to regain a feeling of control, which can have a protective effect against bullying.
Examples of choices they can make are:
- stay or leave,
- fight or lie low,
- act independently or seek the help of others,
- use formal support channels (a union) or informal ones (friends), lodge a formal grievance or have a quiet chat with Occupational Health workers or a Personnel Manager.
The choices are not mutually exclusive, they can of course choose to use some of these together.
6. If the bullying has just started you may be able to help them to confront their bully. This should be done very carefully, so as not to worsen the situation.
a) State the behaviour that is becoming problematic, state that you find it unacceptable.
b) State firmly that you're not willing to put up with the behaviour, that you consider it to be bullying and that you will take whatever steps are necessary to put an end to it.
c) Ignore any comments that suggest it is not your business. A bullying culture has negative effects on all those who come into contact with it.
7. Fulfil your duty of care to others in the workplace by bringing the situation to the attention of others. If you blow the whistle on bullying you may be protected by the public interest disclosure act 1998
8. If the target suggests retaliation, advise them that this might antagonise the bully. Suggest that the safest way to get help may be through personnel or the union. Drawing attention to the problem is important for the safety of other employees as well as the particular target
9. Get specific case-by-case advice on how to help the target from UK National Workplace Bullying Advice Line or Public Concern at Work, the Whistleblowing charity.
Extract from Survive Bullying: Steps to Success
How to stand up for yourself and take control. A&C Black, 2006.
This practical book can be ordered direct, just telephone:
01256 302699 and ask for ISBN: 07136 75209.
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